Steven Da Costa Email and Phone Number

As an executive officer for the DWP I had a passion for helping people. I provided career coaching and life coaching for customers displaced from the labour market due to the Corona Virus pandemic. Key responsibilities and achievements include:• Provided 1-2-1 support to customers, identifying barriers as well as to set goals based on the customers circumstances and provide coaching to work towards them.• Lead ‘18-24 years’ Work Coach for the Kick Start scheme at St. Albans Job Centre, achieving the highest number of successful placements in the Job Centre.• Highest conversion rate of Kickstart applications to job starts of 14% compared to district average of 6%.• Volunteered to be the ‘Youth Employability Coach’, working with the most disadvantaged young customers, and coaching them how to successfully transition into work.• Built strong relationships with DWP Disability Employment Advisors (DEA) and external providers to deliver operational objectives successfully.• Transferred to Hemel Hempstead Job Centre in November 2021 to assist with improving awareness and uptake on the Restart program to achieve Government objects of 500k people back into work by June 2022.• Had articles published in the district’s news magazine covering a range of subjects from mental health to continuous improvement systems.

Brought in to ensure smooth and profitable operation of the Ice Arena during the last 13 months of the operator’s contract. Charged with returning a profit without the availability of peak season. Responsibilities and achievements included.• Improved staff morale, by building trust and mutual support, overseeing culture changes and reducing site departures to ensure operational continuity. Achieved by retaining forty-two members of original work force. • Project management of inherited events, implementing critical path management techniques thereby improving financial control to end increasing costs and generate profits.• Designing and implementing maintenance and improvement plan to ensure continued safe operation of 30-year-old life expired facility and passing Council audit.• Built relationship with Council management to ensure smooth transition of the facility from the operator to the contractors for refurbishment.• Increased public awareness of the facility and improve footfall during off-season period.• Increased customer satisfaction from 55% to 76%.• Generated £55k profit for period April 2016 to November 2016 – up £68k on same period in 2015.

Worked as a self-employed ice-skating instructor providing individual and group coaching to a diverse range of participants.• Ability to adapt teaching style and techniques to provide best possible sessions and allow participants to achieve their goals.• 100% success rate of participants progressing through the Governing Bodies proficiency test system.• Excellent awareness and implementation of safeguarding policies and requirements.• Trusted member of coaching team and made a site keyholder.• Developed skaters to international competitive level.• Founded and lead the ‘Save Hemel Ice Rink’ campaign group in September 2013, motivating and coordinating the activities of over 1,500 volunteers. Became the first campaign to successfully save an ice rink from closure. Achieved in six weeks, making this the shortest campaign to save an ice rink.

Portfolio manager providing banking services and support to 125 SMEs with turnovers between £1m and £60m per annum. Maintained 98% ‘Very Satisfied’ customer rating for period of two years while achieving annual sales in excess of £1M.